How bad am I screwed? (Mavis Ksyrium wheel)

The new bike came with Alex Akx R1.0 rims and hubs and I had them trued at the bike co-op this past thursday. I did some of the work, but the guy who helped me really knew what he was doing, so I don't think that was whole problem but may have contributed.

Today, out for one of our last longer training rides, I popped a rear wheel spoke at the hub. Rode up to the only shop that was even halfway close. Told them what I was doing, what happened, what I am using it for, and they recommended the Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheel. I'm tight on time and money, and they said this was the best wheel they had for my money ($200). SO I took it.

I make no bones about the fact that I'm not looking for this thing to last me even 1000 mi. What I AM looking for it to do is survive a week of fairly light taper training, and then 1 day of triathlon half-iron distance (56 mi) a week from tomorrow.

Am I screwed or is this gonna work? Should I be calling the local shop to build me something I can pick up on friday?

Mavic Rims

I don't know about the Ksyrium wheel. I'm fixing to get a Caad10 and my LBS is going to upgrade the wheels to Mavic Aksium wheels so I started doing research on those. So far I've heard nothing but good things about the Mavics. Supposed to be pretty rock solid.

My concerns is they are 24 spoke and I weigh 310. Plus, this race is like my whole year in a nutshell, so being nervous about a rear wheel is not fun. I've read about folks at 235 riding these without problems, but those weren't bladed spokes.

Originally Posted by Falcon701

I don't know about the Ksyrium wheel. I'm fixing to get a Caad10 and my LBS is going to upgrade the wheels to Mavic Aksium wheels so I started doing research on those. So far I've heard nothing but good things about the Mavics. Supposed to be pretty rock solid.

Ride it, do like 40 miles. Have the spokes tensioned. I ride bontrager 24 paired spoke wheels. I rode them for a bit had them trued and not a problem since then without an issue. I am maybe 30 lbs. lighter then you now. Ride them have the spokes re-tensioned and you won't have an issue. I think the mavic ksyrium are very high quality wheels. I would be more nervous with a wheel built on friday and not riden before the race. spokes loosen up a bit from initial flexing, i rode a 32 spoke 105 hub to alex rims they loosened up horribly at about 30 miles, so bad i had to stop and totally retrue the wheel on the side of the road. Why not just have a spoke replaced?

The new bike came with Alex Akx R1.0 rims and hubs and I had them trued at the bike co-op this past thursday. I did some of the work, but the guy who helped me really knew what he was doing, so I don't think that was whole problem but may have contributed.

Today, out for one of our last longer training rides, I popped a rear wheel spoke at the hub. Rode up to the only shop that was even halfway close. Told them what I was doing, what happened, what I am using it for, and they recommended the Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheel. I'm tight on time and money, and they said this was the best wheel they had for my money ($200). SO I took it.

I make no bones about the fact that I'm not looking for this thing to last me even 1000 mi. What I AM looking for it to do is survive a week of fairly light taper training, and then 1 day of triathlon half-iron distance (56 mi) a week from tomorrow.

Am I screwed or is this gonna work? Should I be calling the local shop to build me something I can pick up on friday?

Replace the spoke, now go all the way around the wheel and give each spoke a 1/2 turn, go around the entire wheel 4 times. Then get it trued, you spoke problems should be behind you.

You'll do fine on the Mavic I'm sure, but the old one was probably more than fixable. I just had a spoke break 2 weeks ago. Oh noes, I guess I need a new wheelset! In all seriousness, a new spoke and a truing was less than $20, and the wheel has been fine since. I know it's only 2 weeks, but if it REALLY gets bad, I do have a spare wheel.

The Mavic is an upgrade, I'm sure, but really it sounds like the shop just wanted your cash. Did you keep the old wheel also? If so, keep it for the training stand or a spare in the case you have to send out the new rear for repairs or whatever.

My experience with broken spokes is that once you brake one more are soon to come, no matter what you do. If you've stressed one to the breaking point others are surely fatigued. I usually re-lace (with new spokes) the wheel once I brake one.

What I'd do is have your new wheel re-tensioned as daffonce said then take your old wheel and have it re-laced at your convenience. That way if you're more comfortable with the higher spoke wheel you can put it on and still have a back-up wheel. Hopefully the LBS where you bought your new wheel from didn't throw it away...

Yes, I kept the old wheel. Technically they still have it at the shop as I didnt want to carry it many miles home. I didn't get enough ride in today after it was fixed to have the new one trued yet, but I will tomorrow. Then I'll get it trued monday.

There's a wheel building class at the bike co-op in the winter, and I'm planning on learning on one wheel then building a better one after my practice wheel. So I'll use the Alex as my practice wheel and re-lace it. And use it for training in the spring.

ben, dont just have them true the new one ask them to retension all the spokes. i dont think a truing really implies retensioning all spokes.

When I picked up the old wheel yesterday I told them I'd bring it in for retensioning this week. They said theyd be glad to take a look at it as part of the purchase but dont expect it to need anything due to the strength of these wheels. I have had pretty good luck on other wheels with fewer spokes lasting me at least several hundred miles without problems. I'd just hate to see a wheel problem ruin my big race of the year.

My next question is how do I stop worrying about this wheel once its retensioned and trued? LOL.

I just read about 5 years worth of reviews on the Ksyrium Equipes. Seems like a few people had problems, many of them on the bladed spokes. Mine does not have the bladed spokes, and is 24 hole as opposed to 20 hole. Surprisingly read quite a few reviews from people in the 250+ set who said they had no problems over a couple thousand miles.

I'm going to take the wheel in for re-tensioning, and then after I pick it back up and riding, I'm forgetting all about any concerns I have to focus on any other problems that might pop up. My guess is I'll have more problems with me than I will with the wheel during the race LOL.

I'm 275 and am going to buy a set of these wheels. I have 3 friends all well over 240 that have 1000's of miles on them, ( these guys are not easy on there bikes at all) and swear by them. I have tried them on my bike for a 20 mile ride. I found them stable and fast, at least fast for me.

Ah worst case though is a spoke pops, you tie it off or remove it, loosen the two nearest spokes a bit to get it to become true. If it goes out of true and it rubs your brakes you can a) loosen the brake or b) jump off and true it. we aren't talking about making the wheel perfectly tensioned just back into true.

good point. I guess Id never really learned the right way to deal with that. for knowing a decent amount about bike repair, my practical on-road skills are kinda weak LOL. I start my new bike repair class on monday, so that oughta help.